Melanie Bishop's young adult novel My So-Called Ruined Life follows female protagonist Tate McCoy during her 17th year, one year after her mother's brutal murder, for which Tate's father is the prime suspect.

Big and beautiful women play important roles in the sex life of the American experience. Their toughness to endure what our society throws in their direction forces them to either be resilient or get crushed under prejudice. Their womanhood isn't predicated on size, but on heart.

There are three TV shows (that I know of) dealing with mental illness: United States of Tara deals with multiple personality disorder and Black Box and Homeland both deal with bipolar disorder. I've watched all three.

Strong women role models, TV heroines, and more importantly for we mid-lifers, women in their almost 50s, are showing up in great leading roles. I started to make a list and wanted to share some of my favorites,

Shows have off seasons. It happens. What worries me about "Homeland" is that it seems to have made structural and thematic choices that limit where it can go next and how effectively it can get there. For three seasons, Brody and Carrie kept finding their way out of impossible situations. I wonder if "Homeland" can do the same.

All of a sudden, in a rush -- though not so spectacular a Rush as the outstanding racing drama which went wide across the U.S. over the weekend -- Homeland is on a dramatically new course. Not just different, not a return to Season 1, as most of the characters are in very different places, but new.

Sure, we've all decided on our favorite looks from the Emmy's. Some of us even had opinions before the stars set foot out of their cars. Like me with Lena Dunham. I always know she's going to look mildly disheveled. Is that fair? No. Is it true? Yes.

Mad Men is back, and I'm glad. Even though the two-part premiere episode wasn't perfect, it brought some keen acting, sharp dialogue, and stunning visuals. And it brought the show fully into the beginning of the fire that consumed the late 1960s.

Nod your head if you understand why I love "Homeland." Yes, this series has been edging toward soap-opera territory at times. And yet, the good stuff is so good that there's no way I'm quitting it now.